marks the 56th anniversary of our wedding. 35 of those years we were blessed to spend them together--the last 21 --well, that's
another story for another time.
How and when did we meet? I guess I have to go back to grade school, when Bob Linder started going to Immanuel. I didn't know
it at that time, but he lived next door to Grandpa and they played together as kids. I didn't know Bob that well, but seeing as
we did go to the same school and church, there was some connection. He was a grade behind me in school, as he was a year
younger, or as he put it later on, ha ha you are older than me. Anyhow, after grade school I went to Lutheran High School and
so did Bob. we were in the same typing class. Our friendship grew throughout our teen years thru our activities with the
Walther League ( the young people's group at church) We were confirmed in our church when we were in 8th grade, having
completed 1 year of instructions. That's where Bob met Vi. She did not go to our school, however, she took instructions in
the church. Going to public school you had to take 2 years instructions. Being in parochial school we had religion every day
of the week. While in high school and after Vi and I were very active members in the church choiras well as Walther League
and we became friends.
Shortly after I graduated from High School Bob and Vi asked me if I would like to go to "music till past midnight" radio
broadcast with them and some friends. Sounded like fun. They picked me up and we all went in one car. These kids belonged
to a gang called "the teutonia Avenue Indians" side note (my Uncle Brownie was also a member of that gang when he was a
kid) We didn't do bad stuff, we just did stuff--having fun together, not much single dating just all going together, but you
knew who was with who and respected that. That was the night I met Grandpa and Chuck Koktavy. They pulled up to my
house and when I got out Chuck and Wayne both got out to walk me to the door, but Chuck won. We dated for about three
years, and in all that time Wayne was a great friend. He dated lots of girls (including my sister, once and he said never
again). I remember THAT beach party.==============
Well this is getting pretty lengthy, so I will say TO BE CONTINUED..................
I will do this in installments and describe our wedding on 4/5
Love you all
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
TELL ME
WHAT YOU WANT, WHAT YOU REALLY, REALLY WANT
This is turning out to be much harder than I thought. I have lots and lots of memories, just waiting to be jogged. I know you guys
want to hear all the dirt about your parent, aunt, uncle, grandma, grandpa etc, well you aint gonna get it. Some stories are only
theirs to share if they choose. Now you are really wondering aren't you. Seriously, I will tell cute interesting things as they
come to mind. I guess we really were a boring family for the most part. Anyhow, give me some clues, ask me some questions
such as "the war years" VJ day =when JFK was killed, my favorite snow story (I have 2) schools then. Christmas, Easter,
summer vacations. You ask I will do my best to let you know what life was like waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back when.
In the meantime, did I ever tell you ===this goes back to the Chicken pox train trip--the night before Dawn stayed overnite
with her friend Stephanie and that left Betsy (Beth) saying her bedtime prayers all by herself. She did quite well until
the one that starts Dear Lord, Bless my Mommy and Daddy, Mikey, my grandmas and Grandpas, my ass and my uncles.
Oh well, anyway we told that to Bob and Vi when we got to Milwaukee. Beth was asleep in the playpen, on her tummy with
her little butt sticking up in the air and Bob L said well, she is showing God where it is.
So much for this time. Love you guys.
This is turning out to be much harder than I thought. I have lots and lots of memories, just waiting to be jogged. I know you guys
want to hear all the dirt about your parent, aunt, uncle, grandma, grandpa etc, well you aint gonna get it. Some stories are only
theirs to share if they choose. Now you are really wondering aren't you. Seriously, I will tell cute interesting things as they
come to mind. I guess we really were a boring family for the most part. Anyhow, give me some clues, ask me some questions
such as "the war years" VJ day =when JFK was killed, my favorite snow story (I have 2) schools then. Christmas, Easter,
summer vacations. You ask I will do my best to let you know what life was like waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back when.
In the meantime, did I ever tell you ===this goes back to the Chicken pox train trip--the night before Dawn stayed overnite
with her friend Stephanie and that left Betsy (Beth) saying her bedtime prayers all by herself. She did quite well until
the one that starts Dear Lord, Bless my Mommy and Daddy, Mikey, my grandmas and Grandpas, my ass and my uncles.
Oh well, anyway we told that to Bob and Vi when we got to Milwaukee. Beth was asleep in the playpen, on her tummy with
her little butt sticking up in the air and Bob L said well, she is showing God where it is.
So much for this time. Love you guys.
Friday, March 21, 2008
GOOD FRIDAY REFLECTIONS
It is amazing to me how Good Fridays have changed over the years. When I was a kid in grade school (we didn't call it elementary school then), we didn't get spring break. We got Easter vacation and it started on Maundy Thursday and ended on Easter Monday. Yes, we had Easter Monday. I was in the children's choir at our church/school and we always sang on the radio on the Saturday before Easter so GF was a heavy rehearsal day. You could join the choir in the 4th grade, so when I first started we used to go to the WTMJ studio to broadcast, but later on they would come to our church and we would broadcast from our choir loft in the church balcony. We did this at Christmas time too.
In our family and pretty much throughout our church family, we gave up eating any meat on GF It wasn't a rule, but pretty much a tradition. Not like the Catholics who were "not allowed" but if anyone did you got that "you're eating meat" look. I was old enough to walk to church for our rehearsals, and it took pretty much all day at church, but we would break for lunch. I remember my Mom giving me money for lunch. I could go over to Hary's Coffee Pot but remember, it's GF, so no meat. Being the obedient daughter, I avidly avoided the really tempting hamburger with grilled onions, and ordered CHILI. When I got home Mom asked me what I had for lunch, and I proudly told her--ohmygosh--was I in trouble, no, but every GF you know they reminded me of the CHILI. I still do not eat meat on this day, but I will never forget the "best bowl of Chili I have ever had" I guess it is the "forbidden fruit" syndrome.
After grade school (8th grade) I worked from the summer of my freshman year on. All businesses closed from 12 noon to 3 PM for "TRE ORE" services Three hour services with the theme being the 7 words of Christ on the cross. People could come and go or stay for the whole time. It was a time of silence and thought. (rejoicing came on Easter Sunday) You sure dont see much of that anymore.
Luv'nhugs
grandma
In our family and pretty much throughout our church family, we gave up eating any meat on GF It wasn't a rule, but pretty much a tradition. Not like the Catholics who were "not allowed" but if anyone did you got that "you're eating meat" look. I was old enough to walk to church for our rehearsals, and it took pretty much all day at church, but we would break for lunch. I remember my Mom giving me money for lunch. I could go over to Hary's Coffee Pot but remember, it's GF, so no meat. Being the obedient daughter, I avidly avoided the really tempting hamburger with grilled onions, and ordered CHILI. When I got home Mom asked me what I had for lunch, and I proudly told her--ohmygosh--was I in trouble, no, but every GF you know they reminded me of the CHILI. I still do not eat meat on this day, but I will never forget the "best bowl of Chili I have ever had" I guess it is the "forbidden fruit" syndrome.
After grade school (8th grade) I worked from the summer of my freshman year on. All businesses closed from 12 noon to 3 PM for "TRE ORE" services Three hour services with the theme being the 7 words of Christ on the cross. People could come and go or stay for the whole time. It was a time of silence and thought. (rejoicing came on Easter Sunday) You sure dont see much of that anymore.
Luv'nhugs
grandma
Sunday, March 16, 2008
A LONG, LONG TIME AGO
I remembered this as I read Shannon's adventure about taking all the kids for Easter pictures.
I don't remember the exact date, but somewhere in the late 50's grandpa and I took the family back to Wisconsin for vacation. This was before Eileen, so there was Dawn, Beth and Mike. We went by train and we caught the train in Pomona, Ca. We hadn't been on the train very long when I met a lady in the restroom, who said "I don't know what is wrong with my daughter. Ever since we got on the train (in Los Angeles) she has been running a fever, and now she is breaking out in blisters. OHMYGOSh, chickenpox Well, they were at one end of the car and we were at the other, keeping the kids apart, I felt rather safe. In the excitement of greeting our parents and friends and the joy of many reunions, it escaped my thoughts.
Well, about a week later all three kids broke out with chickenpox. Not bad for us, as we got to go out and have fun as Grandma and Grandpa Steffen babysat for us.
The thing is, we had to go home and the kids, even tho they were not sick, still had some spots showing so we had to get them cleared by the Health Department before we could even get on the train
Of course, that train was loaded with kids and one father an MD approached us and said are you aware that your children have chickenpox. Needless to say we whipped out the certificate from the HD that said they were no longer communicable. The dr was convinced, but I noticed everyone else avoided us like the plague.
About two weeks after we got home, we received many letters and phone calls thanking us for infecting the entire city of Milwaukee and a few outlying areas as well.
Thus began our mission of spreading joy and laughter wherever we went.
HAPPY PALM SUNDAY a side note. We usually give out palm branches on this day at church, but due to a glitch, the ones they sent us were all dried out, so when it came time to raise our palms in the air for all the Hosannahs, we waved the one God gave us.
Luv'nhugs to all
I don't remember the exact date, but somewhere in the late 50's grandpa and I took the family back to Wisconsin for vacation. This was before Eileen, so there was Dawn, Beth and Mike. We went by train and we caught the train in Pomona, Ca. We hadn't been on the train very long when I met a lady in the restroom, who said "I don't know what is wrong with my daughter. Ever since we got on the train (in Los Angeles) she has been running a fever, and now she is breaking out in blisters. OHMYGOSh, chickenpox Well, they were at one end of the car and we were at the other, keeping the kids apart, I felt rather safe. In the excitement of greeting our parents and friends and the joy of many reunions, it escaped my thoughts.
Well, about a week later all three kids broke out with chickenpox. Not bad for us, as we got to go out and have fun as Grandma and Grandpa Steffen babysat for us.
The thing is, we had to go home and the kids, even tho they were not sick, still had some spots showing so we had to get them cleared by the Health Department before we could even get on the train
Of course, that train was loaded with kids and one father an MD approached us and said are you aware that your children have chickenpox. Needless to say we whipped out the certificate from the HD that said they were no longer communicable. The dr was convinced, but I noticed everyone else avoided us like the plague.
About two weeks after we got home, we received many letters and phone calls thanking us for infecting the entire city of Milwaukee and a few outlying areas as well.
Thus began our mission of spreading joy and laughter wherever we went.
HAPPY PALM SUNDAY a side note. We usually give out palm branches on this day at church, but due to a glitch, the ones they sent us were all dried out, so when it came time to raise our palms in the air for all the Hosannahs, we waved the one God gave us.
Luv'nhugs to all
Saturday, March 15, 2008
GOOD NEWS
For those of you who have heard about the scandals around Las Vegas with the Endoscopy centers. They violated their own ethics and reused needles and syringes and did not sterilize their equipment properly, thus exposing over 40,000 patients to Hepatitis B C and HIV. I was really angry when I heard that. These people swore to do no harm to patients, etc, but for the sake of the almighty dollare, they exposed thousands of people to fear. Yes, I was one of these patients. Even tho I knew the risk of getting one of these diseases was low, it still nags in the back of your head. I said I wasn't concerned, but I was surprised when my Dr's office said all my tests were negative, how much lighter I felt. Thank You God.
So, as we enter into Holy Week, let us remember the sufferings of our Lord and Glory in our Risen Lord on Easter Sunday.
So, as we enter into Holy Week, let us remember the sufferings of our Lord and Glory in our Risen Lord on Easter Sunday.
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